Clamp-type fabric display means

ABSTRACT

A carpet or fabric sample display means is disclosed including a base panel, a forwardly extending relatively narrow top panel connected to the top edge of the base panel and a downwardly extending front panel hingedly connected to the forward edge of the top panel opposite the connection to the base panel with first and second sample clamp means being attached adjacent the upper side edges of the base panel with each clamp comprising a cantilever spring plate depressable downwardly to clamp a sample in position, a slide latch is mounted in a base plate to which the spring plate is connected and is movable over the spring plate to hold the spring plate in clamping position so that samples can be inserted and removed easily without damage to the sample.

United States Patent [1 1 Griggs et al.

CLAMP-TYPE FABRIC DISPLAY MEANS Inventors: Carl L. Griggs, Dalton, 621.; George Hansman, Cleveland, Ohio Assignee: National Service Industries, Inc.,

Atlanta, Ga.

Filed: Dec. 19, 1972 Appl. No.1 316,569

Dec. 4, 1973 [5 7] ABSTRACT A carpet or fabric sample display means is disclosed including a base panel, a forwardly extending relatively narrow top panel connected to the top edge of the base panel and a downwardly extending front panel hingedly connected to the forward edge of the top panel opposite the connection to the base panel with first and second sample clamp means being attached adjacent the upper side edges of the base panel with each clamp comprising a cantilever spring plate depressable downwardly to clamp a sample in position, a slide latch is mounted in a base plate to which the spring plate is connected and is movable over the spring plate to hold the spring plate in clamping position so that samples can be inserted and removed easily without damage to the sample.

10 Claims, 8 Drawing figures 1 CLAMP-TYPE FABRIC DISPLAY MEANSv This invention is in the field of merchandise display apparatus of the type normally employed by carpet or fabric salesmen for displaying samples to prospective customers.

A number of devices have evolved in the pastfor the purpose of providing a convenient and aesthetically attractive display of fabric sample goods such as carpet samples, drapery samples or the like for-use in sales presentations. Probably the most common device of this type employs a binder having a pair of apertures formed in a base panel with the apertures serving to, mount a pair of metal rods extending through; aligned apertures in a front panel and retained, in position by locking means such as a threaded cap, screw or the like which must be removed in order toenableremoval or insertion of carpet or fabric samples. Samples maintained on the metal rod members must be provided with openings through which the rods can extend and it is normally preferable to provide grommets around such openings for aesthetic purposes. However, the preparation of such sample displays involves an expenditure of time and effort which the present invention avoids. Another disadvantage of the previously known display device resides in the fact that the small screws or caps employed for maintainingthe sample mounting rods in position are frequently lost to the'consequent inconvenience of the userof the display device.

Additionally, the prior knownconstructions employing the metal rods extending from v the base panel through the front panel have sufferedfrom the additional disadvantage that such construction employing;

locking screws or cap members extending outwardly of the panel members serves to interfere with the employ ment of advertising, descriptive material or the'like on the front surfaces of the front panel so that it is necessary to work around the retaining-means and the apertures through which the rods extend. An even more significant disadvantage of the previously employed display devices resides in the fact that their retaining cap or screw members extend outwardly beyond the panel members to such an extent as to frequently result in the marring or scratching of adjacent binders when a plurality of binders are stacked for storage or shipping.

This marring, denting and/or scratching of the binders obviously serves to detract from their appearance and does not enhance the users sales presentation.

Therefore, it is the primary object of this invention to provide a new and improved carpet or fabric display means.

Another object of this invention is the provision of a new and improved carpet or fabric sample display means in which the samples can be easily removed with all parts remaining connected to the display to prevent loss of any of the parts.

A still further object of the invention is the provision of a new and improved carpet or fabric display means in which the carpet or fabric samples do not have to be provided with apertures or grommets for enabling mounting of the samples in the display means.

Obtainment'of the object of this invention is enabled by the preferred embodiment of the invention which includes a base panel to which a top panel is connected along the upper edge. of the base panel with the front edge of the top panel being hingedly connected to a relatively short front panel member which extends downlease position in which it plate member so as to release the spring plate member wardly a short distance .below the connection to the top panelhTheouter portion of the front panel can be pro-' vided with a name plate or other advertising if desired. A handle member extends upwardlyfrom the middle portion of the top panel and the base panel is provided with first and second clamp members attached adjacent each side and adjacent the top thereof into which carpet samples can be positioned for clamp retention. Each of the clamp members comprises a base plate attached to the base panel and which includes an upwardly extending mounting plate to which one end of a cantilever type spring plate member is fixedly connected.

The cantilever type spring plate is provided with a plurality of teeth on its outer or free end and is bendable downwardly to engage and clampingly retain a carpet orfabric sample overlying the base plate. The spring plate member can be held in position by means of a slide latch positioned for movement in a rectangular latch slot defined by an offset portion of thebase plate and the base panel with the latch member being slideable into a position in which a portion of the latch member overlies the top of the spring plate member to hold the spring plate in its downward or claimping position. However, the latch member can be moved to a reno longer overlies the spring and permit removal of the carpet sample. The offset portion of the base plate definingthe latch slot is formed of a pair of spaced relatively short side legs con nected by a bridge plate spaced from and extending parallel to the base panel so asto define therectangular slot. The upper surface of the bridge plate includes a pair of outwardly extending protrusions which aid in retention of a sample by the clamping operation of the spring plate.

Since the samples are retained in position solely means of the clamp members, there is no need to provide any apertures'or the like in the samples as is necessary in prior. devices employing rods or posts upon which the samples are mounted. g I

A better understanding of the manner in which the preferred embodiment achieves the objects of the invention will be enabled when the following detailed description is read in conjunction with the appended drawings inwhich:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the preferred embodiment oriented in a vertical or carrying position;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view illustrating the preferred embodiment with one of the clamps'in an open condition as would be the case during the insertion or removal of a sample by the user;

FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view of the lefthand cIampmember of the preferred embodiment as viewed in FIG. 3;

FIG. 7.

suitable conventional materials to the top edge of l which a top panel 14 is connected. Similarly, a relatively small front panel 16 is connected to the forward edge of top panel 14. Top panel 14 and front panel 16 are formed of the same material as the base panel and all of the panel members are provided with a protective plastic coating or the like 18 in a conventional manner. A handle 20 extends outwardly from the upper middle portion of the top panel 14 in a conventional manner.

The first or left-hand clamping means 24 is fixedly connected to the top left-hand edge of the base panel 12 and a second clamping means 26 is similarly fixed to the top right-hand edge of the base panel 12. The clamping means 24 and 26 are essentially identical and the following detailed description of the left-hand clamping means 24 is equally applicable to the righthand clamping means 26.

Clamping means 26 includes an attachment bracket comprising-an L-shaped plate 28 (FIG. 3) including a base plate 30 anda spring plate support mounting plate 32 which extends perpendicularly from the upper edge of the base plate 30. Base plate 30 is connected to the base panel 12 by conventional means such as two rivets 34'with the rivets extending through the base plate 30 on opposite sides of an offset portion of the base plate. The offset portion is formed of a relatively short first side leg plate 36 and a second relatively short side leg plate 38 with the upper edges of the side leg plates 36 and 38 being connected by a bridge plate 40. The space between the first side leg plate 36, the bridge plate 40, the second side leg plate 38 and the base panel 12 is in the form of a rectangular latch slot in which -a latch member 42 is mounted for reciprocation.

Latch member 42 includes a slide plate 44 mounted in the latch slot, a connector portion 46 and a retaining portion 48 extending horizontally from the upper edge of the connector portion 46 parallel to the slide plate 44 as'best shown in FIG. 3. A cantilever spring plate 50 is attached to the mounting plate 32 on one end by means of a tab 52 through which a rivet 54 extends. Rivet 54 also extends through the top panel 14 as shown in FIG. 5. The outer or free end of the spring plate 50 is provided with a series of teeth 56 as shown in FIG. 3.

The normal portion of the spring plate 50 is illustrated in FIG. 2 and in FIG. in which position the spring plate is shown in an elevated position above the upper level of the retaining portion 48 of the latch 42; however, spring plate 50 is flexible and can be bent downwardly below the level of the retaining portion 48.

It is to be noted that the latch member 42 is capable of recirpocation between an extended or unlatched position as illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 4 and alatching position illustrated in FIG. 7. In the extended or unlatched position of the latch, the spring plate member 50 is free to move upwardly to the position illustrated in FIG. 5. However, when it is desired to position a sample such as sample 22 in the display device, the sample is manually positioned as shown in FIG. 2 and the spring plate member 50 is then moved downwardly to clampingly engage the sample. The spring plate is retained in position by movement of the latch member into the-position illustrated bn FIG. 7 in which the retaining portion extends over the spring plate member. The teeth 56 and a pair of upwardly extending protrusions 60 on the bridge plate 40 serve to retain the sample in position in an obvious manner.

Movement of the latch member 42 to its outward or unlatching position to the left as illustrated in FIG. 4 is limited by means of an upwardly protrusion 62 formed in slide plate 44 adjacent its innermost end with it being noted that the protrusion 62 comprises a dimple member extendingupwardly above the lower surface of the bridge plate 40. Consequently, the protrusion 62 will engage the bridge plate upon outward movement of the latch member to prevent complete removal of the latch memberfrom within the confines of the rectangular latch slot defined by the first and second side leg plates 36, 38, the base panel 12 and the bridge plate 40.

Therefore, it will be seen that the subject invention provides a sample display device that is easy to use and assemble. A particular advantage resides in the convenience with which the samples can be easily inserted and removed from the device and in which there is no necessity for providing mounting apertures or the like in the sample swathes. Similarly, the samples can be removed without the necessity of employing any tools by merely moving the latch members 42 outwardly to their unlatching position at which-time the spring plate 50 will spring upwardly to completely free the sample mounted in the device. Similarly, the mounting of a new sample is easily effected by placing the sample in the desired position, depressing the spring plate 50 and then moving the latch members into latching position illustrated in FIG. 7. 7

While numerous modifications of the subject invention will undoubtedly occur to those of skill in the art, it should be understood that the spirit and scope of the subject invention is to be limited solely in light of the appended claims.

We claim:

1. A sample display means for displaying samples of carpet or the like comprising a base panel, first and second sample holding means mounted adjacent first and second side edges of said base panel, each of said sample holding means including clamp means comprising a cantilever spring plate having a free outer end and a fixed inner end, attachment bracket means connecting said fixed inner end of said cantilever spring plate to said base panel, sample engaging and retaining means on the free outer end of said spring plates, the free outer end of said spring plates being movable downwardly into a sample engaging clamping position in which a sample oriented between the spring plate and the base plate is clamped therebetween and spring plate latch means movable between a latching position engaging said spring plate to hold said spring plate in said sample engaging and clamping position and a release position permitting said spring plate to move upwardly and away from clamping engagement with a sample to enable removal of the sample or insertion of a new sample into display position.

2. The invention of claim 1 wherein said attachment bracket comprises a generally L-shaped base plate fixedly attached to said base panel and a spring plate supporting mounting plate extending at a right angle upwardly from said base plate and connector means fixedly attaching said spring plate to said mounting plate.

3. The invention of claim 2 wherein said base plate includes a slot defining portion defining a generally rectangular slot and wherein said latch means includes a slide plate received in said rectangular slot opening for axial movement between said latching and said release positions.

4. The invention of claim 3 wherein said latch means additionally includes a connector portion extending upwardly from the outer end of said slide plate and a retaining portion extending inwardly from the upper termination of said connector portion so as to overlie said spring plate when moved to said locking position for retaining said spring plate in said locking position.

5. The invention of claim 4 wherein said slot defining. portion of said base plate comprises first and second relatively short side leg plates extending upwardly from the base panel and connected outwardly of the base panel by a bridge plate for defining said rectangular slide opening.

6. The invention of claim 5 wherein said bridge plate additionally includes upwardly extending protrusion means for engaging and aiding in retention of a sample.

7. The invention of claim 6 wherein said carpet engaging and retaining means on the outer end of said spring plate comprises a plurality of teeth members.

8. The invention of claim 1 wherein said attachment bracket inlcudes a base plate fixedly attached to said base panel, a portion of said base plate comprising first and second relatively short side leg plates extending upwardly from said base panel and connected outwardly of the base panel by a bridge plate for defining a generally rectangular slide opening between said first and second relatively short side leg plates and said bridge plate wherein said latch means is mounted for reciprocation in said rectangular slide opening.

9. The invention of claim 8 additionally including means on said latch means for preventing removal of said latch means from within the confines of said rectangular slide opening.

10. The invention of claim 9 wherein said latch means includes a slide plate received in said rectangular slide opening and said means for preventing removal of said latch from said rectangular slide opening comprises an upward protrusion on the end of said slide plate protruding above the lower level of said bridge plate. 

1. A sample display means for displaying samples of carpet or the like comprising a base panel, first and second sample holding means mounted adjacent first and second side edges of said base panel, each of said sample holding means including clamp means comprising a cantilever spring plate having a free outer end and a fixed inner end, attachment bracket means connecting said fixed inner end of said cantilever spring plate to said base panel, sample engaging and retaining means on the free outer end of said spring plates, the free outer end of said spring plates being movable downwardly into a sample engaging clamping position in which a sample oriented between the spring plate and the base plate is clamped therebetween and spring plate latch means movable between a latching position engaging said spring plate to hold said spring plate in said sample engaging and clamping position and a release position permitting said spring plate to move upwardly and away from clamping engagement with a sample to enable removal of the sample or insertion of a new sample into display position.
 2. The invention of claim 1 wherein said attachment bracket comprises a generally L-shaped base plate fixedly attached to said base panel and a spring plate supporting mounting plate extending at a right angle upwardly from said base plate and connector means fixedly attaching said spring plate to said mounting plate.
 3. The invention of claim 2 wherein said base plate includes a slot defining portion defining a generally rectangular slot and wherein said latch means includes a slide plate received in said rectangular slot opening for axial movement between said latching and said release positions.
 4. The invention of claim 3 wherein said latch means additionally includes a connector portion extending upwardly from the outer end of said slide plate and a retaining portion extending inwardly from the upper termination of said connector portion so as to overlie said spring plate when moved to said locking position for retaining said spring plate in said locking position.
 5. The invention of claim 4 wherein said slot defining portion of said base plate comprises first and second relatively short side leg plates extending upwardly from the base panel and connected outwardly of the base panel by a bridge plate for defining said rectangular slide opening.
 6. The invention of claim 5 wherein said bridge plate additionally includes upwardly extending protrusion means for engaging and aiding in retention of a sample.
 7. The invention of claim 6 wherein said carpet engaging and retaining means on the outer end of said spring plate comprises a Plurality of teeth members.
 8. The invention of claim 1 wherein said attachment bracket inlcudes a base plate fixedly attached to said base panel, a portion of said base plate comprising first and second relatively short side leg plates extending upwardly from said base panel and connected outwardly of the base panel by a bridge plate for defining a generally rectangular slide opening between said first and second relatively short side leg plates and said bridge plate wherein said latch means is mounted for reciprocation in said rectangular slide opening.
 9. The invention of claim 8 additionally including means on said latch means for preventing removal of said latch means from within the confines of said rectangular slide opening.
 10. The invention of claim 9 wherein said latch means includes a slide plate received in said rectangular slide opening and said means for preventing removal of said latch from said rectangular slide opening comprises an upward protrusion on the end of said slide plate protruding above the lower level of said bridge plate. 